mcb. September 18th, Mass at the Schoenstatt Zion Shrine, mcb. “On, September 18th, we united with everyone worldwide, who celebrated the anniversary of the Covenant of Love and the founding day of the capital of grace, and we prayed for the abundant graces of this Shrine, here in Schoenstatt, and above all on Mount Zion… for everyone.” To be in front of the screen hundreds of kilometers from the closest Shrine and thousands of kilometers from the Original Shrine and to hear these words caused goose bumps…and to be aware of this truth that those ten or fifteen people who gathered at dawn of September 18th in the Zion Shrine in Schoenstatt are united, thanks to the covenant of love, thanks to this large current of graces that embraces the world with people and places that they have never known or ever will know with hearts all beating with the same love: Your covenant – our mission. Every 18th is such a unique experience!
One Thousand Hail Marys in Goya – for the Original Shrine. “We united in prayer asking for abundant blessing for the Argentinean Schoenstatters, who prayed the rosary throughout the day at the wayside of Goya. They wanted to send one thousand Hail Marys to heaven for a favorable resolution to the problems concerning the Original Shrine.” It was a magnificent gesture; sisters, Hildegard and Agathe Hug, who are in charge of the texts for the Mass and also of its live transmission, gathered some events and activities from this day – with the help of the collaborators of schoentatt.org. Hours later Ines Petiti wrote: “We prayed with all the love of the world so that each Hail Mary at the Blessed Mother’s place in Goya will unfetter the negotiations, and that the place will belong to everyone…” The photos of the simple missionaries kneeling with the rosary in hand in this beautiful place in such a poor country, praying for “Everyone’s Shrine” that they have never visited or perhaps will ever visit: caused goose bumps.
Similarly they prayed for: the pilgrims who would seal their Covenants of Love in the City Shrine in Buenos Aires, for the Schoenstatters in Chile who were celebrating their Independence Day, and for the Schoenstatters who were celebrating the Anniversary of the Shrine in Belmonte, Rome on his day.
35 Covenant days until the Covenant of Love Jubilee
The last petition summarizes everything, and it actively involves every one of the participants wherever they are. We united in prayer asking for abundant blessings for Schoenstatters worldwide, who celebrated the 35th covenant day before October 18, 2014, and who are on the road of interior and exterior preparation for this Jubilee. Give everyone the courage to continue on new roads toward a new unity as a Family of one Father and Founder.
It is my family. It is my covenant of love. It is my pilgrimage. It is my Jubilee. It is my 2014. It depends on me; it depends on my heart shrine that this Movement lives, and that the Covenant of Love become more afire each day. Yes, beloved Mother of the Lord and our Mother: We joyfully go on pilgrimage to your Shrine… I joyfully go on pilgrimage to your Shrine…
This is my “denarius” for this 18th.
One profound experience, one denarius
Father Jonathan Niehaus, the main celebrant of this Mass, greeted the participants – in the Shrine and via the Internet – in English, German, and Spanish. The homily was also in three languages, on the Gospel of the day about the owner who went out at dawn to contract workers to work in his vineyard and who at the end of the day paid a denarius to each one, after eight, six or just one hour of work. His interpretation was surprising: he interpreted this along the line of the unique experience of the day that should touch the deepest part of our hearts, and that is worth much more than a thousand passing experiences…”We celebrate the 18th to concretely value and profoundly taste an experience, the experience of the Covenant of Love,” he said. “We should ask ourselves: What was my experience this month? This he said is the denarius that we receive month after month as a person, as a community, and as a Schoenstatt Family.
What is your denarius this month?
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English Translation Melissa Peña-Janknegt: English edit
The South African Schoenstatt Family is also united in prayer for Fr. Jonathan Niehaus… we value the many contributions Fr Niehaus has made in the many books he has written -making the words of our Founder accessible to the English speaking countries.
More recently we had our October weekend at the beginning of October and Fr Pedro (his course brother) used texts from Fr Niehaus extensively. So we felt that he was with us!
We entrust Fr Niehaus to our dear Mother Thrice Admirable and ask her to care perfectly – should it be in God’s plans -then we too ask for a miracle attributed to our Father and Founder so that our father’s cause may be accelerated and Fr Niehaus be restored to health.
From our ‘Solidarity in the Covenant’ shrine, in Cape Town ,
Sr M Connie
We just heard that Fr. Jonathan’s cancer has spread, it’s a fast growing and aggressive cancer, and the doctors do not perceive a treatment. He’s been given the Last Sacraments.
Let us please pray to our father and founder that if it is God’s will that this dear child of his who has done so much for our Schoenstatt Family will be cured so he may continue serving our MTA and her family here on earth. MPHC-EV
I too watched the Mass in the Zion Shrine on 9/18 and as usual was lifted up by Fr. Jonathan’s bag of inspirations (although I could not understand all – only the English parts – the visual aids came through quite clearly). But then I also watched his Mass on 9/19 at the Shrine of the Families and noticed his health had taken a turn for the worse (indicated by a very raspy voice).
We have since been informed that he went to the hospital shortly thereafter and was found to have a tumor on his lung.
Let us please pray to our dear father and founder for Fr. Jonathan’s health. Also if anyone can offer an update as to how he is doing it would be most appreciated.